Apparatus for transferring piled silage

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for transferring piled silage and the like including a conveyor and means for mounting the conveyor on a receptacle such as a truck body. Means are provided for selectively disposing the conveyor in an operative position wherein the lower end of the conveyor is disposed to engage piled silage and the like for transfer thereof by the conveyor to a discharge position. In the operating arrangement, the discharge position is located to discharge the conveyed silage into the truck body receptacle. The means for mounting the conveyor further defines means for elevating the conveyor to a retracted position permitting the apparatus to be moved as desired substantially in the manner of a conventional truck. The conveyor is provided with support means for engaging the ground in the operative position for facilitated transfer of the silage. The conveyor may have a width substantially equal to the width of the body receptacle for improved, fast transfer of the silage material.

United States Patent Stieren 1 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] APPARATUS FOR TRANSFERRING PILED SILAGE [72] Inventor: Arthur J. Stieren, RR. #2, Box 153,

West Point, Nebr. 68788 22 Filed: Feb. 17, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 12,086

[52] US. Cl.. ..214/520, 214/8326, 198/126 [51] Int. Cl. ..B60p 1/36 [58] Field of Search ..214/8326, 519-522; 56/345; 198/7 BL, 117-126, 96, 101

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,660,439 11/1953 Scranton ..214/522 X 3,263,844 7/1966 Spellman, Jr. ..214/83.26 X 1,459,731 6/ 1923 Henderson ..56/345 2,661,105 12/1953 Purdy ..214/83.26 2,562,539 7/1951 Ellis et a1. ..214/83.26 X 2,332,729 10/1943 Klosterman ..214/83.26 X 693,266 2/1902 Gross ..198/120 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc- Cord 5 7] ABSTRACT An apparatus for transferring piled silage and the like including a conveyor and means for mounting the conveyor on a receptacle such as a truck body. Means are provided for selectively disposing the conveyor in an operative position wherein the lower end of the conveyor is disposed to engage piled silage and the like for transfer thereof by the conveyor to a discharge position. In the operating arrangement, the discharge position is located to discharge the conveyed silage into the truck body receptacle. The means for mounting the conveyor further defines means for elevating the conveyor to a retracted position permitting the apparatus to be moved as desired substantially in the manner of a conventional truck. The conveyor is provided with support means for engaging the ground in the operative position for facilitated transfer of the silage. The conveyor may have a width substantially equal to the width of the body receptacle for improved, fast transfer of the silage material.

8 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUBZQ I972 SHEEI 1 0f m m 3% 1 i fi ma Z PATENTEDwszs 1912 3.687322 sum 3 or s BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to silage transfer apparatus and in particular to apparatus for transferring silage from a pile into a suitable receptacle.

2. Description of the Prior Art A number of apparatuses have been developed for transferring silage and the like into a truck or wagon receptacle. The known devices, however, are limited in the usefulness thereof in. that they do not provide facilitated selective positioning of the silage conveying means in the operative and retracted positions to permit facilitated selective loading and transport. Another disadvantage of the known silage transfer apparatuses is the limited size of the conveyor requiring substantial time in the loading operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved apparatus for transferring piled silage and the like, including a silage conveyor and means for mounting the conveyor on a receptacle such as a truck body receptacle. The mounting means is adapted to position the conveyor in an operative position with the lower pickup end thereof disposed to engage the piled silage material adjacent the ground level. The upper end of the conveyor defines a discharge position whereat the silage is delivered into the open truck body receptacle. The truck body receptacle may be provided with improved distributing means for distributing the delivered silage material uniformly therein. The mounting means further includes means for selectively raising the conveyor to a retracted position permitting the apparatus to be utilized in the conventional truck manner for transporting the picked-up silage.

The conveyor preferably has a width substantially equal to the width of the truck body receptacle whereby maximum efficiency and speed in the transfer of the piled silage material is provided. The lower end of the conveyor may be provided with a support wheel for engaging the ground during the loading operation and providing facilitated manipulation of the conveyor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an apparatus for transferring piled silage and the like embodying the invention with portions broken away to I facilitate the illustration thereof;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the drive portion of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the means for driving the conveyor;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the conveyor apparatus as disposed in a retracted position on the rear of the truck body receptacle;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the arrangement of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic side elevation of the apparatus as arranged during a loading operation;

FIG. 7 is a perspective rear view of the apparatus in the operative position of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic side elevation of the apparatus as arranged during a transport operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawings, a loader generally designated 10 is shown to comprise an apparatus for transferring piled silage and the like S for transport as desired. Apparatus 10 includes a conveyor 11 and a receptacle 12 which may comprise a mixer feed wagon or truck mixer. The receptacle l2 and conveyor 1 1 are carried on a suitable frame 13. The conveyor 11 is mounted on the frame 13 by means of a mounting mechanism 14 disposed in the rear end 15 of the receptacle 12. The frame is further provided with suitable support wheels 16 for transport of the apparatus in the conventional truck manner. As best seen in FIG. 1, frame 13 is disposed substantially above the level of the subjacent ground surface 17. Mounting means 14 is arranged to selectively position conveyor 11 in an operating position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, and in a retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 8.

Conveyor l 1 is provided with a plurality of flights l8 adapted to engage the piled silage S as seen in FIG. 6, and as a result of the travel of the flights endlessly on the conveyor, deliver the silage to a discharge position generally designated 19 for delivery through the open top 20 of receptacle 12. In the operating position, a cutting wheel 21 is pivotally mounted on the lower end 22 of a conveyor carrier 23, to cut into packed silage when the apparatus is backed into the piled silage S. Cutter 21 further cuts the silage as the conveyor is raised while loading. The conveyor is mounted on carrier 23 which is movably carried on uprights 24 secured to the rear of the truck frame 13. As best seen in FIG. 4, the conveyor is mounted on carrier 23 by means of suitable structural members 25 to extend at an angle to the vertical. The entire conveyor 11 is reciprocal vertically on the uprights 24 by means of a piston device 26 which may be suitably conventionally operated to selectively position the conveyor in the retracted position of FIG. 8 and the operative position of FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 4, controlled pressure may be supplied to the piston device 26 by a suitable supply line 27 which may lead to suitable control means (not shown). A stabilizing cable means 28 may be provided for stabilizing the conveyor mount as best seen in FIG. 5.

The conveyor is driven from a suitable drive motor 29 (FIG. 1) through a pair of universal connectors 30 and 31, and an output shaft 32 driving a sprocket 33 which, in turn, drives a sprocket 34 on the conveyor drive shaft 35, by means of a chain 36. More specifically, drive motor 29 drives a shaft 37 which is journalled in suitable bearings 38 and 39 as shown in FIG. 2. A l-way clutch 40 is disposed between the motor output box 41 and shaft 37, and a chain drive 42 is connected directly to the motor output shaft 43 for driving a feed distributing mechanism generally designated 44 disposed within the receptacle 12 for uniformly mixing and distributing the silage material delivered thereinto by conveyor 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the mechanism 44 may further include a discharge conveyor 44a for removing the silage from the receptacle when desired.

As best seen in FIG. 3, universal joint 31 is connected to sprocket 33 by a shaft 45 journalled in a suitablebearing 46. An idler sprocket 47 may be provided on the conveyor for taking up slack in the chain 36.

Thus, in use, loader provides for facilitated movement to the piled silage by conventional movement of the apparatus as a wheeled vehicle with the conveyor 1 1 in the retracted position as shown in FIG. 8. Illustratively, the apparatus may be hacked to the piled silage as shown in FIG. 6. The conveyor 11 is lowered by means of piston 26 to dispose the lower pickup position 48 adjacent the ground level 17 with the support wheel 21 supporting the lower end of the conveyor on the ground. The conveyor is then driven from drive 29 to move the flights suitably to convey the piled silage upwardly and into the open top receptacle 12 as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 7, the conveyor extends substantially the width of the receptacle 12 so that maximum efficiency and speed in loading the receptacle is provided. The lower end of the conveyor is spaced suitably sufficiently above the ground surface 17 to preclude interference by the ground with the movement of the flights 18 while yet permitting the pickup position 48 to be disposed closely adjacent the ground for maximum efficiency in loading of the piled silage.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, in the operative loading position, the pickup position 48 of the conveyor is disposed substantially below the level of the bottom 49 of the receptacle. Upon completion of the loading operation, the conveyor is again moved to the retracted position of FIG. 8 whereupon apparatus 10 is available for transport in a conventional wheeled wagon manner. The use of hydraulic piston 26 permits the selective positioning of the conveyor by facilitated control. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, the conveyor is rigidly supported in the inclined position in both the retracted and operative positions thereby providing an improved rugged construction. The length of conveyor 11 as shown is greater than the height of receptacle 12 for facilitated loading of the piled silage.

As discussed briefly above, the silage delivered into the receptacle 12 may be mixed and uniformly distributed therein by mechanism 44. The facilitated manipulability of the conveyor permits facilitated loading of different silage material for improved mixing thereof by means 44. Illustratively, a layer of alfalfa may be firstly delivered into the receptacle and subsequently covered by a layer of corn; suitable antibiotics, and vitamins may then be placed over the corn; and then a suitable layer of molasses-treated alfalfa overlaid thereon. Mechanism 44 provides a facilitated mixing of the layers to provide a homogeneous mixed cattle feed from the layers. Where only a single type of silage is to be transferred by apparatus 10, mechanism 44 may be deactivated as desired.

Apparatus 10 is extremely simple and economical of construction while yet providing facilitated operation in the loading and transport of material such as piled silage. The apparatus may be utilized by a single man who need not leave the truck cab as during cold or inclement weather while yet effectively loading the piled silage into receptacle 12.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention.

1. Apparatus for transferring piled silage to a wheeled receptacle having a bottom and an open top. said apparatus comprising: conveying means for engaging silage and conveying it from a pickup position to a discharge position; means for mounting said conveying means to a rear end of said receptacle at a preselected fixed angle with said position rearwardly of said receptacle in a loading position at a level no greater than approximately the level of said receptacle bottom and said discharge position overlying said receptacle open top for transferring silage from a pile adjacent said receptacle into said receptacle, said mounting means including vertical uprights and power means for selectively vertically bodily moving the entire said conveying means on said uprights between said loading position and a retracted position wherein the lower end of said conveyor is spaced substantially above the level of said receptacle bottom to permit movement of said receptacle over a subjacent surface free of interference by said conveying means while maintaining the overall length of the apparatus for facilitated positioning of the apparatus relative to piled silage to be transferred; and means carried by the conveying means aligned substantially with an edge of an upright boundary wall of the receptacle for cutting the piled silage.

2. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 including wheel means movably carrying said receptacle and said means mounting said conveying means is arranged to dispose said conveying means to have said pickup position below the bottom of said receptacle adjacent said subjacent surface.

3. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said conveying means includes hydraulic piston means for selectively raising and lowering the conveying means.

4. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said conveying means in cludes hydraulic piston means for selectively raising and lowering the conveying means while maintaining the conveying means at a preselected angle to the vertical.

5. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle further defines an upright boundary wall and said conveying means extends upwardly adjacent said wall and has a width substantially the width of said wall whereby the silage is delivered into said receptacle substantially fully thereacross.

6. The silage transferring apparatus of claim I wherein said conveying means has a height greater than the height of said receptacle and said mounting means is constructed to dispose said conveying means pickup position below the level of the bottom of said receptacle.

7. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means extends upwardly adjacent said boundary wall and has a width substantially the width of said wall whereby the silage is delivered into said receptacle substantially fully thereacross.

8. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said silage cutting means comprises wheel means rotatably carried by said conveying means. 

1. Apparatus for transferring piled silage to a wheeled receptacle having a bottom and an open top, said apparatus comprising: conveying means for engaging silage and conveying it from a pickup position to a discharge position; means for mounting said conveying means to a rear end of said receptacle at a preselected fixed angle with said position rearwardly of said receptacle in a loading position at a level no greater than approximately the level of said receptacle bottom and said disCharge position overlying said receptacle open top for transferring silage from a pile adjacent said receptacle into said receptacle, said mounting means including vertical uprights and power means for selectively vertically bodily moving the entire said conveying means on said uprights between said loading position and a retracted position wherein the lower end of said conveyor is spaced substantially above the level of said receptacle bottom to permit movement of said receptacle over a subjacent surface free of interference by said conveying means while maintaining the overall length of the apparatus for facilitated positioning of the apparatus relative to piled silage to be transferred; and means carried by the conveying means aligned substantially with an edge of an upright boundary wall of the receptacle for cutting the piled silage.
 2. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 including wheel means movably carrying said receptacle and said means mounting said conveying means is arranged to dispose said conveying means to have said pickup position below the bottom of said receptacle adjacent said subjacent surface.
 3. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said conveying means includes hydraulic piston means for selectively raising and lowering the conveying means.
 4. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means mounting said conveying means includes hydraulic piston means for selectively raising and lowering the conveying means while maintaining the conveying means at a preselected angle to the vertical.
 5. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said receptacle further defines an upright boundary wall and said conveying means extends upwardly adjacent said wall and has a width substantially the width of said wall whereby the silage is delivered into said receptacle substantially fully thereacross.
 6. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means has a height greater than the height of said receptacle and said mounting means is constructed to dispose said conveying means pickup position below the level of the bottom of said receptacle.
 7. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means extends upwardly adjacent said boundary wall and has a width substantially the width of said wall whereby the silage is delivered into said receptacle substantially fully thereacross.
 8. The silage transferring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said silage cutting means comprises wheel means rotatably carried by said conveying means. 